Concealed carry garment

ABSTRACT

A concealed carry garment manufactured and designed to conceal an item, such as a firearm, beneath the garment is disclosed. This concealed carry garment applies a stiffening material or agent to an interior surface of a garment outer material to add rigidity to a concealment areas, most commonly worn over carriage location for a firearm, thus reducing the ability for a firearm to print or show through the garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/910,008 filed Oct. 3, 2019, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to garments, and more particularly to shirts for concealing an item beneath the shirt.

In many states, lawfully carrying a concealed firearm means hiding your legal firearm from obvious view. When carrying a firearm under an article of clothing, particularly a t-shirt, the outline of the firearm is often times visible. The visible outline of a concealed firearm underneath clothing is known as “printing” and occurs especially when a person conceals a firearm under a close-fitting garment, such as a t-shirt.

Depending upon the state, such printing can subject the user to undesired attention from other individuals. Moreover, such printing would defeat a purpose of concealing the carriage of the firearm for the individual.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved garment that reduces the ability for a firearm to print or show through a close-fitting garment, such as a t-shirt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a concealed carry garment is disclosed. The concealed carry garment includes a garment having an outer fabric layer. A stiffening material is applied to an interior surface of the outer fabric layer. The stiffening material is applied to define a concealment area on the garment area to cover and conceal a concealed item carried by a wearer of the garment, when worn.

In a preferred embodiment, the concealed item is a firearm.

In some embodiments, the stiffening material is an interfacing material. In other embodiments, the stiffening material applied via a stitching. In other embodiments, the concealed carry garment includes a thermal bond between the stiffening material and the outer fabric layer. In other embodiments, the concealed carry garment includes an adhesive between the stiffening material and the outer fabric layer. In other embodiments, the concealed carry garment includes attaching a stiff or thick fabric to the outer fabric layer. In yet other embodiments, the stiffening material is a liquid agent, that, when cured, provides a stiffening to the outer fabric layer. In yet other embodiments, the stiffening material is extra layers of same or similar fabric that is fused, bonded, or sewn via stitching onto the inner service of the outer fabric layer.

In yet other embodiments, the outer fabric layer is selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, cotton, cotton blends, polyester, rayon, nylon, spandex and polyester blends.

In other aspects of the invention, a method of manufacturing a concealed carry garment is disclosed. The method includes forming a garment having an outer fabric layer selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, cotton, cotton blends, rayon, nylon, spandex, polyester, and polyester blends. The method also includes applying a stiffening material to an interior surface of the outer fabric layer to define a concealment area of the garment, the concealment area dimensioned to cover and conceal a presence of a concealed item carried by the wearer, when worn.

In some embodiments, the step of applying includes stitching the stiffening material to an inner surface of the outer fabric layer. In other embodiments, the step of applying includes thermally bonding the stiffening material to the interior surface of the outer fabric layer. In other embodiments, the step of applying includes applying a liquid agent to the outer fabric layer; and curing the liquid agent.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a concealed carry shirt in use. The outside of the shirt presents a smooth profile without an imprint of the concealed item being visible from beneath the shirt.

FIG. 2 shows the concealed carry shirt in use, with the model lifting the shirt to show one example of how the concealed item is mounted beneath the concealed carry shirt.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the concealed carry shirt with the concealed item, shown in dashed lines, and a horizontal dash line indicating a stiffening material borderline on the inside of the shirt.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the shirt shown turned inside-out. The lower panel of the concealed carry shirt is reinforced with the stiffening material on the inside shown in grey stippling.

FIG. 5 is rear perspective view of the concealed carry shirt turned inside-out. The lower border of the shirt is reinforced with stiffening material on the inside shown in grey stippling.

FIG. 6 is a left side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the concealed carry shirt turned inside-out. A low lateral side patch of the shirt is reinforced with stiffening material on the inside shown in grey stippling for concealing a concealed item carried on the side, including but not limited to the hip.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of an alternate embodiment of the shirt inside-out. A low side patch of the shirt is reinforced with stiffening material on the inside shown in grey stippling for concealing a concealed item carried on the side, including but not limited to the hip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides an improved shirt and method of making the same to reduce the likelihood of inadvertently exposing the carriage of a firearm through printing.

Close fitting shirts, such as t-shirts typically are manufactured with a single layer, or perhaps multiple layers of fabric that conform to the user's body. These shirts do not provide an element of rigidity, which causes typical t-shirts to outline the item carried beneath the material. Aspects of the present invention adds a layer of rigidity to areas of the shirt which most commonly cover the firearm, preventing or minimizing printing.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-7, a concealed carry garment 10 according to aspects of the invention is shown. The garment may be a shirt, such as a t-shirt, which has an outer layer that may be made from common fabrics, selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, cotton, cotton blends, rayon, nylon, spandex, polyester, and polyester blends. A layer or layers of a stiffening material 20 is applied to an interior surface of the concealed carry garment 10. The stiffening material 20 is formed of a layer or layers of an interfacing material, such as used in a collar, or a backing for an embroidery applied to a garment. The stiffening material 20 is dimensioned to a desired concealment area 100 to provide concealment of a concealed item, such as a firearm 30, which may be carried in a holster 60.

In some embodiments, the stiffening material 20 may be applied to an interior surface of the outer fabric layer via a stitching. In other embodiments, the stiffening material 20 may be applied by a thermal bonding process where the stiffening material 20 is adhered to the interior surface of the outer fabric layer. In other embodiments the stiffening material 20 may be a stiffening liquid applied to the outer layer, that when cured, provides stiffening to the material of the outer layer. The stiffening material 20 may also be adhered to the outer layer via an adhesive.

As shown in reference to FIGS. 1-5, the stiffening material 20 may define a concealment area 100 by a boundary line 40, where the concealment area 100 is one or more a lower front panel or a lower back panel of the concealed garment 10. In the embodiments, shown in reference to FIGS. 6-7, the concealment area is defined by a border line 50 disposed at a lateral aspect of the concealed carry garment 10. The concealment area 100 may be provided on one or more of a left side or a right side of the concealed carry garment 10.

In use, the concealment area of the concealed carry garment 10 that have the stiffening materials 20 applied are more rigid and stiff. These concealment areas prevent or minimize the concealed item from showing through the concealed carry garment 10. The stiffening material 20 is applied to the inside of the concealed carry garment 10, to add rigidity to the concealment area 100 of the concealed carry garment. The concealment area 100 then prevents the outer layer material from clinging to the concealed item 30 to prevent someone from identifying the outline of the concealed item carried underneath the concealment area.

By using the concealed carry garment 10 with the stiffening material 20 applied to the one or more concealment areas 100 defined at areas that commonly cover the firearm 30, the user 70 will minimize or eliminate firearm printing. Printing is when the firearm outline is visible, which informs an observer as to the nature of the item maintained underneath the clothing.

As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, the concealed carry garment 10 of the present invention conceals a concealed item worn or carried under the concealed carry garment 10, and therefore can be used to conceal a variety of concealed items, including but not limited to phone cases, medical devices, belt buckles, and the like. Likewise, other garments may be made by applying the stiffening material 20 to pants, shorts, or jackets—specifically the areas covering the pockets, or in the case of pants, the areas covering pockets, the area around the thigh and the area near the belt-line and waist, the product is able to help conceal items that are carried in the pocket of a wearer's pants or shorts.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A concealed carry garment, comprising: a garment having an outer fabric layer; and a stiffening material applied to an interior surface of the outer fabric layer, the stiffening material applied to define a concealment area on the garment dimensioned to cover and conceal a concealed item carried by a wearer of the garment, when worn.
 2. The concealed carry garment of claim 1, wherein the concealed item is a firearm.
 3. The concealed carry garment of claim 1, wherein the stiffening material is one or more layers made from a group consisting of, cotton, cotton blends, polyester, and polyester blends.
 4. The concealed carry garment of claim 1, wherein the stiffening material is an interfacing material.
 5. The concealed carry garment of claim 4, wherein the stiffening material applied via a stitching.
 6. The concealed carry garment of claim 4, further comprising: a thermal bond between the stiffening material and the outer fabric layer.
 7. The concealed carry garment of claim 4, further comprising: an adhesive between the stiffening material and the outer fabric layer.
 8. The concealed carry garment of claim 1, wherein the stiffening material is a liquid agent, that when cured provides a stiffening to the outer fabric layer.
 9. The concealed carry garment of claim 1, wherein the outer fabric layer is selected from the group consisting of, cotton, cotton blends, rayon, nylon, spandex, polyester, and polyester blends.
 10. A method of manufacturing a concealed carry garment, comprising: forming a garment having an outer fabric layer selected from the group consisting of cotton, cotton blends, rayon, nylon, spandex, polyester, and polyester blends; and applying a stiffening material to an interior surface of the outer fabric layer to define a concealment area of the garment, the concealment area dimensioned to cover and conceal a presence of a concealed item carried by a wearer, when worn.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying comprises: stitching the stiffening material to an inner surface of the outer fabric layer.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying comprises: thermally bonding the stiffening material to the interior surface of the outer fabric layer.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying comprises: applying a liquid agent to the outer fabric layer; and curing the liquid agent. 